Pregnancy is a difficult time for most women. Before you become pregnant, you are told that you can eat positively everything. But once you are actually pregnant, you realize that this is all but a myth. There are a hundred restrictions placed upon the pregnant woman’s diet, as many innocuous foods turn lethal, not to mention the usually dangerous foods, such as the entire fast food menu. Ideally, the pregnant woman should eat only the healthiest of foods, those that help in the healthy development of the fetus and keep the mother in good health. But that does not mean that the mother will not crave for foods that can only be termed as snacks. And when this snack hunger strikes, you cannot go wrong with popcorn.
Yes, in healthy quantities
Corn itself is a rather dicey food when it comes to the pregnant system. There are ample carbohydrates and starch in corn that can become harmful if consumed in large quantities. Popcorn, however, is a whole other story. It is the one food truly classified as a snack and actually recommended by the doctors. This is because popcorn, although not nutritious by itself, is not at all harmful as long as it is eaten the right way. The best part is, there are not many restrictions on eating popcorn in terms of quantity, although there are some restrictions on how you eat it.
The risks associated
There is no harm in eating popcorn as long as you are having the normal variety, that is, without any toppings. Ideally, you are supposed to eat popcorn that does not have any of the harmful condiments like salt, butter, or caramel. Too much of salt intake results in an imbalance of the sodium content in the body, which can lead to water retention, fluctuations in blood pressure, and many more complications. This is especially harmful for the pregnant woman. Sugary caramel, on the other hand, is also not a very good idea, as sugar is bad for health, and excessive consumption of sugar leads to a host of health problems, which is exacerbated during pregnancy. Butter, if eaten in immoderate quantities, will also lead to the buildup of fat and a possible imbalance in the sodium levels in the system.
How to eat
Of course, that does not mean that you are restricted to eating only bland popcorn all through the nine months. Drizzle some butter and salt into your snack, and you will be good to go. The same goes for the caramel as well; simply put in some sugar, syrup, or caramel into the popcorn, and you will have a tasty snack that is not too unhealthy. Of course, even that much is out of the question if you are expressly forbidden by the doctor from having any extra sugar or salt.
Also read: Can I eat fries during pregnancy?
Alternatively, you can opt for brown sugar or cane sugar as these are a lot healthier than the white variety. Also, instead of going for the pre-packaged popcorn, try popping some at home by choosing best popcorn kernel on the market. The packaged variety- popped or unpopped, comes with a lot of extra sugar, butter, and salt, and is not healthy. Have some popcorn with milk for the added nutrition. Avoid condensed milk, though, as it is loaded with sugar.